Happy senior couple taking swimming lessons from young trainer. Smiling old woman and mature man doing aqua aerobics exercise in swimming pool. Retired people in swimming pool looking at camera.
Are you suffering from chronic pain? Are you diagnosed with osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, lower back pain, or hip pain? Did you recently undergo surgery and wish to recover quickly? Well, there is no better way to relieve all your pain than aquatic therapy, especially if you fall in the elderly age group.
Give aquatic therapy a chance to help you heal and ease your pain. Aquatic therapy uses the properties of water buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, and water temperature.
Physical therapists advise this therapy to help those suffering from chronic pain heal their bodies and relieve them from pain. So if you are living a life with constant episodes of chronic pain resulting from an injury or an underlying disease, we suggest you not waste a second ignoring your health.
You are on the right page if you are still wondering what aquatic therapy is, why it is used, and its benefits. Just stick with us and keep reading. We will provide you with all the necessary information that you need to know about aquatic physical therapy.
What is Aquatic Therapy / Aqua Therapy/ Hydrotherapy?
Aquatic therapy, also called aqua therapy, pool therapy, water therapy, or hydrotherapy, is a specialized form of physical therapy that involves hands-on techniques and other body movements performed on patients in a pool with heated water at a temperature of around 84° to 93° F. This therapy is used to provide relief to those suffering from chronic pain and who do not respond well to the traditional physical therapy approach.
This therapy is comparatively easier to perform and does not require much effort as in traditional physical therapy by using the properties of water. Therefore it is advisable to therapy for aged and pregnant women. The buoyancy of water decreases the gravitational pull, thus reducing efforts in performing movements and exercises underwater. The therapy is equally effective for all age groups.
Consult the expert physical therapists for therapy and eliminate all your physical pain. Therapy makes use of specialized equipment that is specifically designed for therapy. Also, warm water has its healing power, thereby providing relief from chronic pain.
Conditions That Can be Treated with Aquatic Physical Therapy
Aquatic therapy can treat and manage a wide range of conditions. It not just relaxes the body but also the mind as well. Water is believed to live; yes, sure, it is. What is better than living a life without any physical pain and discomfort? Therapy is advisable for those presenting with symptoms like:
- Chronic pain of back, knee, leg, or other joint pain.
- Muscular spasms
- Circulatory problems
- Traumatic head injuries
- Stroke
- Arthritis
- Neurological conditions
- Balance and gait disorders
- Heart diseases
- Sports injuries
- Accidents and trauma
Why Should You Consider Aquatic Therapy?
Aquatic therapy is recommended because of the following reasons:
- The therapy exercises are easier and do not require extra patient effort.
- The water buoyancy and the hydrostatic forces avoid straining the muscle and the joints by decreasing the gravitational pull inside the water pool.
- The warm water provides a soothing effect on the injured, painful muscles and joints.
- Ideal for all age groups, especially elderly and pregnant females.
What is aquatic therapy used for?
Aquatic therapy is ideally used as a unique form of physical therapy for patients who don’t respond well or cannot perform the traditional therapy approach. Here are a few notable points that you cannot relate to using therapy.
- Decreases pain:– Aquatic therapy is a physical therapy technique for relieving chronic pain. The warm water provides comfort and relieves pain by improving the blood supply to the affected site.
- Increases muscular strength:- Water exercises have more resistance than those performed outside water which helps in increasing muscular strength.
- Increases the flexibility of the joints:- The buoyancy of water decreases the gravitational force acting on the joints, thereby decreasing the excess load and strain. It causes improved flexibility of the joints and range of motion, making the joints less painful.
- Maintain balance:- Water distributes uniform pressure providing extra support to the body when in water. You longer have to worry about falls and injuries with therapy.
Conclusion
Aquatic therapy is provided by physical or occupational therapists in a therapeutic pool, using the properties of water, including buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, and temperature. Your aquatic therapists will design a customized therapy session to provide relief without the risk of falling or injuring yourself, as in the case of traditional physical therapy. Avail the benefits of therapy for a healthy and pain-free life.
